Department for Communities and Local Government

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2017 to Question 2770, what steps are being taken to monitor the provision by local authorities or otherwise of emergency guidance in high-rise blocks in languages spoken by all residents; and if he will make a statement.

Alok Sharma: All residents should understand the emergency fire safety guidance in their buildings. It is building owners' responsibility to ensure that this is the case. The Government has encouraged building owners to communicate with residents with respect to any actions being taken as part of the checking and testing process for Aluminium Composite Material cladding.

Housing: Construction

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on ensuring housing developers convert planning permissions into homes.

Alok Sharma: We are clear that new homes should be built out as soon as possible once planning permission is granted. Indeed, all planning permissions are time-limited: if building does not commence within the time period specified in the planning permission, it will lapse.It is important to recognise that there are a variety of reasons that might prevent development starting once permission has been granted, some of which are beyond the control of developers. That is why our Housing White Paper proposed taking a wide-ranging approach to ensure planning permissions are converted into much-need homes as swiftly as possible. The proposals aim to do so by:Diversifying the range of players in the housebuilding sector.Tackling barriers to developments with planning permission from starting on site, including delays to the delivery of essential infrastructure.Holding local authorities and developers more clearly to account for the delivery of new homes.Increasing transparency about the timing and pace of housing delivery.We have already made progress on some key proposals, such as the recent announcement of the £2.3 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund.Views were sought on a number of proposed tools to hold developers more closely to account. The White Paper proposals included encouraging greater scrutiny of a site’s delivery prospects where earlier permissions have not been implemented; encouraging local authorities to set shorter timescales for implementing permissions; and more streamlined procedures for serving a completion notice. We are currently considering the response to these proposals.

Department for Exiting the European Union

INTERREG Programme: Brexit

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the Irish Government on the continuation of interreg funding for Wales.

Mr Robin Walker: The Government will guarantee EU Structural and Investment fund projects signed before we leave the EU, even where these continue after we leave. Beyond these priorities, decisions on the replacement of EU funding will be taken in light of wider UK strategic priorities and other domestic spending decisions. As we transition to longer-term arrangements, we will ensure the devolved administrations are treated fairly and their circumstances are taken into account. The Government is committed to securing a deal that works for the entire United Kingdom - for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England.